After seven weeks, MLAs back in Assembly chamber ... for 45 minutes

Normally, the first sitting of the Assembly after an election involves at least one major item of business, the election of a speaker.

However, with the future of all the devolved institutions in doubt because of Sinn Fein’s refusal to re-enter the Executive with Arlene Foster as first minister, Monday’s gathering was just an administrative exercise held in public, the signing of the roll of membership, which took 45 minutes.

The parties had agreed to postpone the election of a speaker for another fortnight, meaning that outgoing Speaker Robin Newton – who is almost certain not to remain in that post given that every party except his own, the DUP, had called for his removal prior to the election – remains as speaker for another two weeks.

It is not yet clear who will put their names forward for the speaker’s post.

The DUP is likely to be reluctant about giving up one of its MLAs for the post this time, given that it would make it even harder for it to secure the necessary 30 signatures to trigger a petition of concern.

The Alliance Party has already ruled out any of its MLAs taking the post, largely because it has a small team of MLAs and would lose one of its most capable representatives if someone such as David Ford or Stephen Farry was to take the role.

Similar considerations are likely to be a factor for the UUP and SDLP, although neither party has publicly ruled out its MLAs from taking the top post.

The most obvious contenders from their benches would be the SDLP’s John Dallat or Patsy McGlone – both of whom have been deputy speakers – or the UUP’s Roy Beggs, also a former deputy speaker.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein’s most obvious contender for the position, Caitriona Ruane, who had been principal deputy speaker in the last Assembly, cannot put her forward for the post because she left the Assembly at the election.

The election of a speaker requires cross-community support, meaning that both the DUP and Sinn Fein – as the largest parties within unionism and nationalism respectively – would need to vote for the individual.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has confirmed that Gerry Adams will leave the Stormont talks for two days from Wednesday that he can travel to the US for St Patrick’s Day engagements.

However, although one of those engagements will be a reception at the White House, Mr Adams said: “There are no plans for me to meet with President Trump.”

The Sinn Fein president’s stance is in contrast to that of the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire, who has cancelled a meeting with the US president in order to stay at the Stormont talks.

On Monday the Republic’s Foreign Minister, Charlie Flanagan, said that there was “a positive disposition” at the talks.

He added: “It is important that the urgency of the situation be fully acknowledged and I detect an acknowledgement in that regard.”